Depth gauge



April l0, 1945. 1 T, RAKAUSKAS 2,373,338

DEPTH GAUGE Filed July 2l, 1942 'dammi Illllrllwl INVENTOR,

A TTORNFYS.

Patented Apr. 10, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE DEPTH GAUGE yJ ames T. Rakauskas, Chicago, Ill. Application July 21, 1942, Serial No. 451,785

' 2 Claims. (c1. Aarf-173) My invention relates to rules or scales used by mechanics and of a size to be carried in the pocket, and more particularly to devices in which a depth gauge is combined with the rule, such depth gauge carrying a clip for attaching the device to the pocket, and my main object is to improve this type of device by making it exceedingly simple.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination depth gauge and pocket clip which is made in one piece.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the novel device that it is tapered in one direction to form the pocket clip while widened in the opposite direction to present a broad front to serve as the depth gauge.

An important object of the invention is to form the novel device in a manner to serve all its purposes with a minimum of material and size.

With the above objects in View, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the novel device mounted in a garment pocket; l

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the main portion thereof;

Fig. 4 is an edge View; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental view of the device positioned horizontallyand applied as a depth gauge.

While devices combining a depth gauge and 'pocket clip for rules or scales have been devised from time to time, those which have come to my y attention are more or less involved, made oi several parts, and formed to take up undue room or catch in clothing by the projection of minor parts. Thus, these disadvantages detract from the convenience and efiiciency of those devices,

and it has therefore been my intention to provide a device for the same purpose, but so constructed that it combines the qualities neatness and simplicity.

In accordance with the foregoing, specic reference to the drawing indicates a typical pocket rule or scale at I0 which is approximately 6 inches long and from Se to Vg inch or more wide.

The novel device is primarily characterized by a triangular plate II, designed to be laid upon one face of the rule to be slidable thereon. The plate is so positioned that one of its forward edges of the plate do not converge to a point, but only so far as to deiine a pendent strip I2 which is arched from the face ofthe rule as indicated at I3 and curved with an outward point I4 to form a conventional pocket clip.

In order that theplate II may beretained to the rule, the medial portion thereof is struck back to form a vvertical sheath I5 within which the rule passes. Inturn, the sheath I5 is stamped with an upward tongue I6 which is tensioned against the rule, whereby to impart a suitable amount oi friction for the sliding movement of the device.

. It is understood that the latter will be made of spring steel to accomplish the purposes of the clip I2 and the tongue I6; in fact, the material is stainless steel in order to render the device forms the upper end of the device and is posltioned transversely of the rule. The side edges immune to corrosion and lend the same a silvery polished appearance.

Fig. 5 shows the application of the device as a depth gauge in relation to a piece of work I1 made with la bore I8. In this connection, the piate I I may be marked with an origin line I9 to denote the scale reading. It is also preferable to provide a unit 2U of graduations on the plate extending from the origin line I9. Thus, a unit 2I on the rule may contain a given number of divisions, such as I0 for a standard space, while the unit 20 contains the same number of divisions in a space equivalent to only 9 of the divisions in the unit 2 I. It is thus possible to procure a measurement on the rule in tenths of its regular divisions. This manner of marking the device is merely an example, and it may be modified for a diierent purpose if desired.

As will be appreciated from Fig. 4, the arched, or humped, intermediate portion I3 of the strip or tongue I2 not only provides a finger-engageable actuating portion for plate I0, but also causes the portion adjacent end I4 to frictionally engage rule Ill so as to act as a friction brake.

The novel device as described above presents several advantages. First, it is all made in one piece, eliminating the need of combining or attaching parts to each other. Second, the device presents a broad gauge for practical purposes, but recedes immediately from the gauge zone to occupy a minimum amsount of room and employ only so much material as is necessary to form the clip I2. This form of the device makes it easy to lower vit and the scale along the front of the garment preparatory to engaging the clip with the pocket; also, it renders the gauge neat and compact. Further, the sheath is firm by being pressed from the material of the plate, yet provides enough surf-ace from which the tongue IE may be stamped out, so that no other part of the plate needf be employed for the tongue lor any other form of friction element. Further, the pressing of the plate to form the sheath provides an opening through which the reading of the rule is apparent for reference to the origin of other graduations on the plate. Finally, it is evident that the novel device is a smooth, thin and practically at attachment for the rule, presenting no appreciable projection from the pocket When tted thereto. f

While I have described the invention along l' of the rule and providing at its outer end a specific lines, various minor changes or rene;-; ments may be made therein without departing from its principle, and I desire to consider al1- such changes and refinements as coming within the scope and the spirit of the appended claimsl'I I claim:

1. In a nat, graduated rule having a slidabieI l gauge member thereon, said gauge member come `prising a. plate slidablefon thegraduated face of the-rule and providing at its'outer enda trans- .verse straighty edge extending therebeyond, an .open-ended .rule-receiving sheathA pressed from an intermediate portionof; said l.plate and having its .rear wall `disposed below the lowerface of transverse straight edge extendingtherebeyond, fan f 1 open-ended L rule-receiving sheath pressed from an intermediate portion of said plate and having its rear Wall disposed below the lower face of same providing a rule-graduation ex- "1 posing opening in the center of the plate, and

an vintegral friction tongue struck from= the rear V'ivall of' said sheath and bearing against said rulev to Ihold the gauge member in set positions thereon, and the sides of said plate tapering in- Wardl'y and downwardly from said straight edge `and `terminating in a tongue of a, width to be substantiallyentirely underlain by said rule, said tongue ,having .an intermediate plate-actuating humpl and a rule-engaging friction brake portion adjacent its free end.

Y', Y yJAMES T. RAKAUSKAS. 

